Background

Global Pulse is an innovation initiative in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General, harnessing today's new world of digital data and real-time analytics to gain a better understanding of changes in human well-being. Global Pulse hopes to contribute a future in which access to better information sooner makes it possible to keep international development on track, protect the world's most vulnerable populations, and strengthen resilience to global shocks. Global Pulse is being implemented as a global network of Pulse Labs, bringing together expertise from UN agencies, governments, academia, and the private sector to research, develop, test and share tools and approaches for harnessing real-time data for more effective and efficient policy action.

Pulse Lab Jakarta
Global Pulse established a Pulse Lab in Jakarta in 2012 in partnership with the Government of Indonesia. Pulse Lab Jakarta functions as an open innovation space where policy experts together with UN development practitioners and other partners can experiment with new types of data and emerging technologies and evaluate their potential to enhance both public policy decision-making and community resilience.  Following the development of useful approaches, Pulse Lab Jakarta will support institutional adoption of these innovations into policy and practice.

The Communications Assistant reports to the Chief Technical Advisor or, as assigned, to other senior members of PLJ. The Communications Assistant will liaise closely with both the Social Systems team and the Research team in Pulse Lab Jakarta and s/he will work broadly across all sections of the Pulse Lab Jakarta team. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

• Support the development and implementation of internal and external communications and advocacy strategies, as well as business development
• Support the elaboration and implementation of the communications strategy and plan
• Support the monitoring of trends and latest developments relevant to data innovation and PLJ’s research activities
• Support the creation of a social media plan for promoting the activities of PLJ
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

1.    Supports the formulation and implementation of internal and external communications and advocacy strategies, supports business development focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Source and input information into the Pulse Lab Jakarta communications and outreach strategy.
• Develop communication materials for marketing and awareness-raising campaigns, including briefing materials and press releases in coordination with supervisor.
• Regularly innovate and experiment with PLJ’s communications media including through the use of social media, e-newsletters (for example TinyLetter or MailChimp), slide decks such as Pulse Stories and TedX-style events
• Organization of outreach activities for PLJ including roundtable discussions, in-house events, briefing sessions, interviews.
• Provision of inputs and researched information in programme formulations to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of PLJ’s activities
• Review of reference materials, identification of reference materials for retention. 
• Maintenance of information database and ensure it is updated regularly
• Assists with the organization of Pulse Lab Jakarta events (including workshops, competitions, innovation camps etc..) as required and captures key messages of such events

2.    Support the elaboration and implementation of the communications strategy and plan focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Identification of storylines for publications and articles contributing to debates on key development issues and highlighting the use of new digital data sources.
• Coordinate the translation/adaptation/rewriting of information received, printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials.  Contact with printers and other suppliers to ensure production.
• Follow up with external consultants regarding communications output

3.  Support the monitoring of trends and latest developments relevant to data innovation and PLJ’s research activities focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identify issues and trends of significance to Pulse Lab Jakarta and keep account for later dissemination through social media updates or the e-newsletter
• Actively keep track of events and conferences and statements of interest to Global Pulse and Pulse Lab Jakarta and disseminate accordingly
• Keep PLJ management abreast of activities in the innovation community in Indonesia and maintain regular contact with key stakeholders

4.  Support the creation of a digital media plan, as part of the Lab’s broader communications strategy, for promoting the activities of PLJ focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Assistance in digital engagement with key audiences via PLJ’s social media channels
• Develop blogposts and news content for the Global Pulse/Pulse Lab Jakarta website and the Lab’s presence on Medium, ensuring consistency of materials and messages
• Regularly monitor references to Global Pulse and Pulse Lab Jakarta online including daily Twitter horizon scanning, reports in on/offline media and government sources.
• Updates supervisor weekly against the lab’s communications key performance indicators, such as social media ‘reach’, website ‘hits’, and communications content ‘impressions’
• Monitor, analyse and share the latest developments in areas of relevance to the Global Pulse initiative, including emerging technologies for social change and advocacy
• Preparation/checking the content for the web sites to ensure consistency of the materials.

5. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Develop and maintains the content of Pulse Lab Jakarta’s communications materials.
• Maintains all relevant communication and information evidence of performed and relevant actions and events
• Manages the PLJ database and updates it regularly
• Professional growth through active learning

Impact of Results
The key results have an impact on creation of effective communications and dissemination of information on Pulse Lab Jakarta in Bahasa Indonesia and English and amongst a wide variety of stakeholders.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity  
• Excellent communication skills, organized (dealing with multiple stakeholders)
• Possesses creative flair, originality and a strong visual sense
• High organizational and prioritizing skills
• Problem solving skills
• Attention to detail
• Focus on results for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment 
• Self-development, initiative-taking 
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work 
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively 
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Functional Competencies:       
 
Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda
Support the preparation of information for advocacy

• Identifies relevant information for advocacy for a variety of audiences
• Makes research of contacts in the media, government, private sector, donors, other agencies, civil society in other stakeholders for PLJ’s advocacy efforts

Building Strategic Partnerships
Maintaining information and databases

• Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Basic research and analysis

• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents innovative strategies and new approaches
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Creating Visibility for PLJ/Supporting PLJ’s Capacity to Advocate
Research and information gathering

• Disseminate information and materials on PLJ’s activities
• Collects, and disseminates information on PLJ priority areas

Global Leadership and Advocacy for PLJ’s Goals
Research and analysis

• Identifies relevant information for advocacy for PLJ’s goals for a variety of audiences
• Maintains a network of contacts in the media and civil society, for use in PLJ’s advocacy efforts

Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise
Research and provision of information

• Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
• Tracks bottlenecks, problems and issues, and proposes solutions
• Responds positively to new approaches

Client Orientation
Maintains effective client relationships

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
• Responds to client needs promptly

Required Skills and Experience

Education:*    
Bachelor degree in a relevant field

Experience:*    
Minimum 3 years of professional experience in a relevant field

Language Requirements:    
Fluency in written and spoken English and Bahasa Indonesia

Other Requirements:    

• Proven ability to work and manage time independently and professionally
• Clear, persuasive writing skills both for classic media (project briefs and press releases) as well as writing for web and blogs
• Good interpersonal and team building skills